Sermon Tone Analysis

James 4:8 (KJV 1900)

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

How It Made Me

The War Within

The overall theme of this passage that James 4:8 is a part of is our ongoing battle with the flesh and how it is a hindrance to our walk with the Lord.

James’ epistle compliments both Paul’s and Peter’s writings especially concerning our struggle with the sinful fleshly pleasure.

Romans 7:21–23 (ESV)

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.

For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

1 Peter 2:11 (ESV)

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

Whereas James references our struggle with the flesh, Paul elaborates on the types of fleshy passions that we actually struggle with.

Galatians 5:19–21 (ESV)

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.

I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Enmity With God

Although some have tried to justified their continual sinful behavior, they have actually pitted themselves against God and His standard of holiness.

Romans 8:5–8 (ESV)

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

1 John 3:4–10 (ESV)

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

Little children, let no one deceive you.

Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.

By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Self-Denial

James concludes that one must practice self-denial worldly sinful pleasures if they desire to have any type of relationship with the Lord.

Self-denial is neither easy nor fun.

Luke 9:23 (ESV)

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

James gives four steps to overcoming the the lure of sinful pleasures.

Submit to God (vs.

7)

Resist the Devil and temptations he throws our way.

(vs.

7)

Draw near to God. (vs.

8)

Repent (vs.

8-10)

Conclusion

If we desire a close meaningful relationship with the Lord, then we must deny ourselves the sinful pleasures of the flesh and draw close to the Lord.